Helping Unmarried Young People Preserve Their Chastity

What should young men do, if they wish to get married but cannot afford it? Allah (SWT) said concerning them:

"And let those who find not the financial means for marriage keep themselves chaste until Allah enriches them of His bounty." (Al-Nur 24:33)

Many means are offered to the young to help them preserve their chastity. Some of them can be found at these links: The Etiquette of Looking and Protecting the Child Against Sexual Arousal and Teaching the Child Islamic Rules Regarding Puberty. Some of the other ways include:

· Filling one’s idle time with physical and intellectual activities, so that one does not engage in sexual fantasies that arouse him. Physical activity is also a good way to spend the extra energy, and to relieve pressure.

· Practicing voluntary fasting, as fasting decreases the sexual drive, and brings one closer to the worship of Allah (SWT). The Prophet (SAW) said:

"Those who cannot (marry) should fast, for it is a means of cooling sexual passion." (Related by Al-Bukhari)

· Most of all, unmarried people should strengthen the religious deterrent within themselves. One good way is to remember the many verses in the Quran warning about Zina, and take lesson in the story of Yusuf (AS) who is the perfect example of the chaste man:

"And she, in whose house he was, sought to seduce him, she closed the doors and said: ‘Come on, O you.’ He said: ‘Allah forbid!" (Yusuf 12:23)